The Half Sheet
Six Key Reasons for Virginia to Open an Office of New Americans and Leverage Our Untapped Potential
While the U.S. has a long, yet often divisive, history of welcoming immigrants to join our democracy, the country has never quite developed a formal system to help integrate newcomers into the economy and our communities
Three Steps Toward Making Private Health Coverage More Affordable
The cost of health care coverage is a growing concern, especially for individuals and families who access health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual marketplace. A recent report by Altarum Healthcare Value Hub found that 79% of Virginia adults who purchase health insurance on the private market are concerned they will not be able to afford health coverage.
State Tax Proposals Would Make Virginia’s Tax System More Fair
The 2020 General Assembly session offers an opportunity for state lawmakers to substantially boost investments into critical areas while also making Virginia’s tax system more fair.
The Deeply Flawed 2017 Federal Tax Law Turns Two
An economy that works for everyone means prosperity is shared widely: our communities can thrive, families are able to provide for themselves and their children, and opportunities are available to each person.
Proposed Tax Increases Would Be Regressive and Only Partially Offset
When it comes to investing in our state and communities, our state lawmakers have often turned to regressive taxes and fees as their preferred funding source.
Casino Gambling May Not Be Winning Jackpot For The Commonwealth
Recent media coverage and debate among state lawmakers shows that Virginia has interest in legalizing casinos. And on Monday, two bills were prefiled for the 2020 legislative session that would do just that.
Restoring Virginia’s Estate Tax Would Increase Funding for Services and Reduce Inequality
At the federal level, policy discussions increasingly revolve around wealth taxation as a potential funding source for ambitious proposals.
In Potential Year-end Tax Legislation, Federal Lawmakers Must Remember to Support Families
A fair economy that works for everyone means families are able to provide for themselves and their children. That means having enough food to eat, reliable transportation, and other necessities.
Funding our Future: Stepping Up for Our English Learner Students
Every child should have access to an excellent education, and in Virginia, it is written into our constitution that the legislature will seek to ensure “an educational program of high quality.” Yet with another year of student outcome data,
Virginia Families Shoulder the Burden of Rising Higher Education Costs, Harming Students Facing Greatest Barriers
Tuition has increased dramatically at Virginia’s four-year colleges and universities, driven in part by deep state cuts in funding for higher education over the past decade. Students who already face the greatest economic and racial barriers to higher education are particularly impacted by these rising costs.
Virginia Immigrants: Our Neighbors and Partners in Building Thriving Communities
As discussion swirls around the role of immigrants in Virginia communities, especially in the closing days of a highly competitive state election cycle, it’s worth remembering that immigrants move to Virginia for many of the same reasons as people born in other areas of the United States job opportunities, good schools, and thriving communities. It’s also worth remembering that our immigrant neighbors help create and maintain those strong businesses, schools, and communities.
Improving Federal and State Credits Would Boost Virginia’s Latinx Families
While tax laws may seem racially neutral, research has shown that tax policy choices often have substantially different impacts by…